Open spaces development: BMC slashes project cost by half after low bids from contractors

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) controversial Rs 100-crore plan to develop over 200 gardens has now been reduced to Rs 48 crore after re-tendering.

The controversy surrounding development of gardens and open spaces seems to be unending.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) controversial Rs 100-crore plan to develop over 200 gardens has now been reduced to Rs 48 crore after re-tendering.

In a contentious move, the civic body has not given the estimate cost of the project, along with the bids put forth by contractors, which is the general norm.

The proposal only mentions the cost at which the gardens will be developed, putting forth the question about the quality of work that will be undertaken.

The proposal had hit a roadblock after contractors vying to develop the gardens had submitted bids as low as 70% below the civic body’s estimates. The contracts were later scrapped and fresh tenders were invited.

The BMC then decided to appoint contractors for each ward in the city, instead of having seven contractors developing all the open spaces. Even the cost of the entire project was trimmed down by Rs 10 crore to Rs 92 crore.

The BMC has tabled the re-tendered proposal worth Rs 48 crore to develop 205 gardens, and another 224 open spaces to be developed for Rs 116 crore.

The proposal includes developing over 400 opens paces, road medians, traffic islands as well as some cemeteries across the city. Along with the development of the gardens, the contractors will also have to maintain these spaces for three years and six months.